External Resources

This is a list of Prayers, Scripture, Quotes, Tools & Resources that our members have found useful or inspiring in their faith journeys.

These resources are not endorsed by Walking with Purpose, but they are consistent with Catholic teaching. If you see any discrepancies or would like to add resources that have been helpful to you, please email wwp@holyrosaryseattle.org

Thank you to all of our women who have contributed to this page!

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Prayers

A Morning Prayer of WWP Patron Saint, Saint Therese of LisieuxO my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity.Amen.

A Healing Prayer at BedtimeLord Jesus,through the power of the Holy Spirit, go back into my memory as I sleep. Every hurt that has been done to me, heal that hurt. Every hurt that I have ever caused another person, heal that hurt. All the relationships that have ever been damaged in my whole life, that I am not aware of, heal those relationships. But, Lord, if there is anything that I need to do, If I need to go to a person because he or she is still suffering from my hand, bring to my awareness that person. I choose to forgive and I ask to be forgiven. Remove whatever bitterness may be in my heart, Lord, and fill the empty spaces with your love. Amen.A Prayer of ThanksgivingOh dear Lord, Thank you for my life within my family. Thank you for all of the graces and blessings that you are constantly bestowing upon me. Help me to use all of my gifts for your glory and the good of others. Open my eyes to see you in the “disguise” of all of those around me – my family, friends, coworkers and neighbors. Help me to truly live your Gospel and do everything I do because of my love for you, knowing that with each person I serve, I am serving you, dear Lord. Thank you for your love! Amen.From The Domestic Church by Donna-Marie Cooper O’BoyleThe Serenity PrayerO God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace. Taking, as he did, the sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that he will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever. AmenPrayer of St. Francis of AssisiLord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.A Prayer for MothersDear Blessed Mother Mary, Please open my heart to see the holiness within my vocation of motherhood. Please guide me each day as I guide my children towards heaven. Help me to have the courage to strive to serve others as you did, rather than expect to be served. I pray that I may also be a “handmaid of the Lord.” I pray for the courage to say to the Lord, “Be it done unto me according to thy Word.” Teach me, please, dear holy Mary, and bring me to your son Jesus.” AmenFrom The Domestic Church by Donna-Marie Cooper O’BoyleA Prayer for MarriageLord Jesus, grant that my spouse and I may have a true understanding love for each other. Please grant us the same grace to live with each other in peace and harmony with faith and trust in one another. May we always bear with one another’s weaknesses and grow from each other’s strengths. Help us to forgive one another’s failings and grant us patience, kindness, cheerfulness and the spirit of placing the well-being of one another ahead of self. May our love grow stronger with each passing year. Bring both of us closer to You through our love for each other as it grows to perfection. Amen.From Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

A Prayer for a FamilyLord, bless our family, all of us together, those far away, all who are gone back to you. May we know joy! May we bear our sorrows in patience. Let love guide our understanding of each other. Let us be grateful to each other. We have all made each other what we are. O Family of Jesus, watch over our family. Amen.Manual of Prayers; Pontifical North American College; RomeA Prayer for FriendshipLord Jesus Christ, while on earth you had close and devoted friends, such as John. Lazarus, Martha and Mary. You showed in this way that friendship is one of life's great blessings. Thank you for the friends that you have given me to love me in spite of my failures and weaknesses, and to enrich my life after your example. Let me ever behave toward them as you behaved toward your friends. Bind us close together in you and enable us to help one another on our earthly journey. Amen.

Scripture

John 6-25:33-“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.

Reflection

I had to laugh to keep from crying. Sitting in a pew with a twenty-two-month-old and an eight-week-old and trying to listen to the service was like brushing my teeth while eating cookies: useless and messy. Weeks went by. The toddler grew more verbal. “Look, Mama!” she’d exclaim as she gazed at the stained glass. The baby grew less sleepy, always seeming to fuss during the homily. All this effort to get us bathed, dressed, and to church at least close to on time and I’d leave the sanctuary having gained nothing except more drool on my clothes. I packed busy bags, took turns with my husband going outside, and did my best to be an example for my daughter, telling her about Communion and helping her onto the kneeler. Still, we’d end up leaving right after because someone was absolutely done, even if the service wasn’t. One Sunday as we drove home, the car heavy with hungry sobs and my frustration, I felt Someone write on my heart that mothers of young children shouldn’t worry about what they’re getting from church but rather what they’re bringing to church: the next generation to love our wonderful God. It seems simple, but that moment transformed my Sundays. I was able to share my daughter’s joy over the stained glass instead of shushing her exclamations. When my son cried, I told him stories, whispering God’s truths into his ears. We still leave after Communion; we know our limits, after all. But now we leave with great rejoicing.

Lord, remind me that church is about praising You, not appearing perfect. Help me to raise children who run to Your home on earth with a happy heart.

By Ashley Kappel

Education and Inspiration

Catholic TeachingBible: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops- http://www.usccb.org/bible/ Catechism of the Catholic Church online- http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/index.html